A26883:2295
Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who,…Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who,…
Richard Baxter's Catholic theology plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriors who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,Richard Baxter's Catholick theologie plain, pure, peaceable, for pacification of the dogmatical word-warriours who, 1. by contending about things unrevealed or not understood, 2. and by taking verbal differences for real,
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1675
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
§. 10. And 1. It is evident that the Reatus culpae is either the sin it self or its inseparable effect. He that hath once sinned is Related to God as a sinner. And an infamous Relation, such as of a Rebel, a Rogue, a Murderer, &c. is no small evil, in all sound mens esteem.
§. 11. 2. Sin is the Deformity, disorder, and disease of the soul; and its Habits are a kind of Vicious Nature: It is the Nature of Devils to be exceeding malignant, rebellious and at enmity with God and spiritual Goodness: To have a Nature or Disposition, which is averse to that which should be its own end, delight and happiness. And a wise man would rather be annihilated, than turned into a Toad, a Snake or Adder, though their nature be not offensive to themselves. How much more would he rather be annihilated than become a Devil? Wicked men are liker to Devils than they are aware of: They Love not God and Holiness: nay they have a malignant enmity to him: which maketh them so averse to all that is Holy in their lives, and to be such persecutors and haters of good men. So that the Scripture calleth their wisdom Devilish, yea and themselves flat Devils in plain words, and the Children of the Devil, Jam. 3. 15. Joh. 8. 44. Joh. 6. 70. One of you is a Devil. And 13. 2. Act. 13. 10. Thou Child of the Devil and enemy of all righteousness—1 Joh. 3. 8, 10. He that commits sin is of the Devil—Therefore they are adjudged to suffer with the Devil and his Angels, as the Saints shall be equal with the Angels of God. For the truth is, a Saint and an Angel, and a wicked man and a Devil, do differ less than is commonly thought on. Now what sober man would not rather be Nothing, than be a Devil? To have a venomous, malignant, malicious, restless, rebellious nature, at enmity to Good and in love with evil? And who is it that maketh men to be such? Not God but themselves.